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{
"id": 1604310,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1604310/?format=api",
"text_counter": 265,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mwaruma",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "56 per cent. Even if we add around Kshs250 million, that would still be much below what we require to do development. What is in the budget for development for Taita-Taveta County is Kshs1 billion. So, even if you add the Kshs300 million, it would just be Kshs1.3 billion. We would want to push this money to go to Kshs6 billion. That was our view. However, even as we fight for Kshs6 billion for the small counties, I am agreeable to the discussants and contributors of this Motion, that, if we add on top of the Kshs2 billion, Kshs2.6 billion to make it Kshs4.6 billion, Taita-Taveta County will get Kshs400 million on top, which would take us to Kshs5.7 billion. This is still a far cry from Kshs6 billion, but it is much better. So, Madam Temporary Speaker, I would like to thank Sen. Okong’o Omogeni for bringing this Motion over to amend, so that we add Kshs2.6 billion more, because at the counties there are many things that we would like to do as governments. For example, counties need to do budgets that are predictable. If we have some counties losing money, then we will not achieve the objectives of our budgets. Most counties have Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for doctors that are waiting for this basis, new budget and DORA to pass, so that the CBAs can be honoured, and so that we stop our medics from going on strike and tampering with service delivery in the counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, all the county workers require a pay rise, given that our Government has been adding taxes, one over another. Right now, they have Social Health Authority (SHA), National Social Security Fund (NSSF) that has been enhanced and the new housing levy, which is largely being used, I would say unconstitutionally, because there was no public participation that the housing levy would be used to fix the Nairobi River, build markets and roads, as has been said the Head of State. So, these people require to have enhanced salaries, so that for those, because of the new taxes, have had their salaries go to below a third, which is unconstitutional, and they are causing their employees pecuniary embarrassment, and they are infringing on the laws of employment, they require a salary increment. They will only get a salary increment if, we get that paltry Kshs4.6 billion for the small counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, with Kshs387.7 billion in DORA, we are getting Kshs5.066 billion, while with the new basis and Kshs405 billion, as has been passed by the National Assembly, we are getting Kshs5.3 billion. However, if we fight, to get Kshs465 billion, then Taita-Taveta County would go to Kshs6.149 billion. So, we must continue fighting, so that in DORA, we pass Kshs465 billion, that has been suggested by the Senate. I have already said that our wage bill is at 54 per cent as Taita-Taveta County, and 11 per cent for the County Assembly. We are remaining with very slim resources to do development. In regards to Own Source Revenue (OSR), which is one area that we can leverage on so that we can get some development, our OSR has been hampered by the national Government refusing to disburse royalties to Taita-Taveta County."
}